Motor piston control apparatus



ug. 2, R C' SMITH MOTOR PISTON CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1951 '7 Sheets-Sheet lI R. c. SMITH 1,869,587

Aug. 2, 1932.

MOTOR PIsToN CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1931 '7 sheets-sheet 2 A1132 2 @32 R. c. SMITH 1,869,587

MOTOR PIsToN CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 2, 19551 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Faye/zia?? Allg. 2, C SMITH MOTOR PISTON CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 NIMH" Afr ` '2., 1.932- R. c. sMlTH 1,869,587

MoToR PIsToN CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1931 7 sheets-sheet 5 w25/dwf? 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 R. C. SMITH Filed April 2, 1931 MOTOR PISTON CONTROL APPARATUS Aug. 2, 1932.

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..5 ff 7W E54 Aug. 2, R* g. SMH-H gp? MOTOR PISTON CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aprilz, 1931 'r Sheds-sheet 7 WZZ/zesas.-

Patented Aug. 2, 1932 1 UNITED STATES :PA'fEN-rl" FF'ICE i Y ROBERT cnoswnLL; Srita-1H.oonroaso. iniimors i I i `v i.

y Moron nis'ron oonrnoifiarranerus application sied` Aisnl `2, i931'.g .serial Nef 627.154.

This invention relates to anmotor pis-ton and arrangements' of parts hereinafter decontrol apparatus constructed and designed scribed and claimed. 5 l to obtain the fullest advantage and benefit The inventionv will be best understood by of the power stroke of a piston in amotor or reference to the accompanying drawings,

5 engine driven by reciprocating pistonsoperforming a partof this specification, and in 55 able in cylinders and connected to a crank Which: i shaft. The preferred embodiment of the 'inl is a vertical longitudinal sectional vention illustrated is in operative associaview ofqan embodiment of the invention in tion with a gasoline internal combustion en# an eight cylinder internal combustion enzo giiielgf the Straight eight type having eight gine, taken substantially on line 1-1 of 60 cylinders in line, inasmuch as this construc- Fig.' 2; f

tion permits of disclosure ofthe divided or Fig. 2 is an enlarged transversey sectional multiple crank shaft feature of the invenview, taken substantially on line 2-2 of tion. It will be understood7 however, that Figpl; i y

the invention is not necessarily confined to f Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken 65 anl internal combustion engine, `or to Substantially-011 line 3-3 of'Fig. 2;

in @ng-iii@ employing a. multiplicity 0f pis- Fig. 4l is an enlarged'sectional view of one tons. The invention may be'advantageously of the disc members and associated parts,

employed in other types of engines or in taken substantially on the line 1 -4 of Fig. l;

other types of machines wherein it is desired Fig. 5 isa side elevational view taken from 70 to provide a differential rotational speed be- 'lleleft 0f Fig'. 45 01 Substantially 011 the tween the shaft connected to thel piston or line 5 5, ShOwIlg the DWO Central disc Hiempistons and the shaft which provides or re- 1361; ceives power. In a power creating motor or Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, taken il engine, a more particular object resides in Substantially 011 the line 6 6 0f Fgl;

providing drive mechanism whereby: a` dif- 'Flgi7 iS 2L pelSpeCtVc View 0f the forward ferential rotational speed is created between Crank Shafty or the one shown 0n the left in a-crank shaft which is directly connected to Fig'- l; i i i f the-respective pistons and the power shaft FguS isa perspective View of the rear which applies power yexternally of the` en crank shaft, or the one shown to theright 80 gine. A further object resides in utilizing in Fig-'1; y

this .differential rotational speed to cause the Fig'- 9 iS 2L VerCl SGCOIlal View taken Subpower Shaft t0 rotate a greater circumfer- Stantially 0n the line'Q--Q Of Fig. l, but with ential distance than the crank shaft during the power shaft and the disc members se- 'l theiinpulse stroke of the piston. AnA addih Cured thereto advanced 45 degrees from the tional object is to provide overlapping of position `shownin Fig. 4; I p impulses which gives greater smoothness and Fig. l0 is a view similar to Fig.`9`, with the flexibility of operation. A' furtherobject'is power-shaftand discs advanced 4:5 degrees to increase the'relative rotational speed 'of beyond that rshown in Fig. 9; f the crank shaft during the scavenger and Y "Fig. 1.1 is asimilar view, with the power cfranpression strokes. An additional object shaft and discs advanced an additional 45 is toprovidea divided crank shaft or apair degrees; j I 'i crank shafts axially` in alignment but vboth Fig. 12 is a similarview, with the same p axially offset from the power shaft where parts advanced an additional Ll5 degrees be-V 95 by the. impulses are more evenly distributed, yond theposition shown in Fig-l1; and inoothness of operation andyflexibility l 13 is aldiagrammatic view, takensubobtained.. v ,p v stantially on the line 13-'13 of Fig. l; Y @ther objects will appear hereinafter."` l l `Figzlll isa view similar to Fig. y13, with' the 5?!) *l invention consists in the combinations crankshaft advanced i5- degrees 5- y ni Fig. is a view showing the crank shaft advanced 45 degrees beyond Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 shows an additional 45 degree advance of the crank shaft;

Fig. 17 shows an additional 45 degree advance, or with the crank shaft on No. 4cylinder at lower dead center;

Fig. 18 shows a 45 degree advance beyond Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 shows a 45 degree advance beyond Fig. 18; and

Fig. 2O shows a 45 degree advance beyond Fig. 19.

As illustrated in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown embodied in an eight cylinder engine having a cylinder block 24, lower crank case and upper crank case 26; To facilitate description, the respective cylinders are numbered from 1 to 8, reading from the forward end of the engine. Thus, piston No. 27 reciprocates in cylinder No. 1, piston 28 in cylinder No. 2, piston 29 in cylinder No. 3, piston 30 in cylinder No. 4, piston 31 in cylinder No. 5, piston 32in cylinder No. 6, piston 33 in cylinder No. 7, and piston 34 in cylinder No. 8. The respective pistons are not directly connected to the power shaft, but pistons 27, 28, 29 and 30 are connected by connecting rods 35, 36, 37, and 38, respectively, to the forward crank shaft 39. rhus, connecting rod 35 is connected to connecting rod bearing 40, rod 36 to connecting rod bearing 41, rod 37 to connecting rod bearing 42, and rod 38 to connecting rod bearing 43. The crank shaft 39 is journaled intermediate its ends in stationary bearings preferably extending inwardly from the upper crank case 26. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, portion 44 of crank shaft 39 is `iournaled in bearing 45, portion 46 is journaled in separated bearings 47, portion 48 is journaled in bearing 49, and portion 50 is journalcd in bearing 51. By this construction and arrangement the crank shaft 39 rotates on the portions 44, 46, 48 and 50 as an axis, with crank arms for the respective connecting rods and having a forward extremity 52 and a rear extremity 53 which follow the circular path described by the connecting rod bearings..

The rear extremity 53 of crank shaft 39 is journaled in a block member 54, as shown in detail in Fig. 4, and block 54 is in turn slidably mounted in a guide 55 mounted on disc member 56. As shown in Fig. 4, the guideway extends through a chord of the disc, or slightly off center, and the disc is formed of two parts separated on a line extending centrally through the guide member 55. These parts are secured together by draw bolts 57 and separated by shim pieces 58 for the purpose of adjustment when the block or guide becomes worn.v Similarly, the block member 54 is preferably formed of two pieces as shown, secured by draw bolts 59, and these parts may similarly be separated by shims which may be removed as occasion requires to take up for wear on the crank shaft end 53. A cross bar 60 is maintained in contact with block 54 by means of tension springs 61 which are secured at one end to the disc member 56 and at the opposite ends to the cross bar 60.

1n the present embodiment of the invention there are four disc members which are adapted to rotate in unison, and during a part of the rotation the springs 61 are extended, as shown in Fig. 5. The function of these springs is to exert a pulling strain upon the block 54 to carry the crank shaft beyond a dead center point, or, in other words, to prevent the crank shaft from coming to rest at a dead center point when the engine is stopped. The forward extremity 52 of crank shaft 39 is journaled in block 62 slidably mounted in guide 63 mounted upon disc member Disc 64 is affixed to shaft- 65 which is journaled in the forward bearing 66, and thus it will be seen that shaft 65 constitutes a power shaft extending externally of the engine, upon which may be mounted fan pulley 67. Disc member 64 and the associated guide 63 and block 62 are identical with the disc member 56` block 54 and guide 55, as well as the associated parts shown in Fig. 4, except that the parts are reversed by reason of the fact that block 62 serves as a bearing for the opposite end of the crank shaft 39. rfhe rear crank shaft 68 as shown in Fig. 8 is similar in construction with forward crank shaft 39 except in reverse position. Referring to Figs. 1 and 8, piston 31 of cylinder No. 5 is connected by connecting rod 69 with connect-ing rod bearing 70,'piston 32 is connected by connecting rod 71 with connecting rod bearing 72, piston 33 is connected by connecting rod 73 with connecting rod bearing 74, and piston 34 of No. 8 cylinder is connected by connecting rod 75 with connect-ing rod bearing 76. The forward extremity 77 of the rear crank shaft 68 is journaled in block 78 slidably mounted in guide 79 of the center rear disc member 80. Disc member 86 and the associated guide and slidable block are identical in construction and operation with the forward center' disc member 56 and the associated guide and slidable block, except in reverse position, as shown in F 4. These two disc assemblies are yioined by shaft 81 journaled in stationary divided bearing 82. The rear crank shaft 68 is journaled in stationary bearings corresponding to the journaling of the forward crank shaft and on the same longitudinal axis as the forward crank shaft. Portion 83 is journaled in stationary bearing 84, portion 85 is journaled in stationary bearing 86, portion 87 is journaled in divided bearing 88, and portion 89 is journaled in bearing 90. The rearmost lilition.

extremity 91 of the rear crankshaft, which in guide 93 ofthe rear disc member 94.= The disc Lassembly represented bythe disc member 94and the associatedpartsrincluding t-he -guide 93 and theblock 92, lare-.keyed upon power shaft 95 journaledin` bearing 96, and extending yexteriorly` :of the engine `for the transmission or reception'of powerx In the presentl embodiment of 4the yinvention shaft 95I carries flywheel97 :in accordance: with usualv internal .combustion motorl construcyBy: .the construction land arrangement shownl and described, the respective disc members rotate on the same'longitudinal axis, and the forward and 'rearcranki shafts likewise rotate upon the samelongitudinal axis, but the crank shaft axis isfofset laterally from the disc axis, Vas shown'by reference to Fig. 4 wherein the center disc shaft 81 is shown in dotted lines.y By'reference to Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, it will be noted that by following the rotation of the respective parts in a counte'rclockwise, direction, the connecting rod bearings for Nos. 3 and 4 cylinders are advanced approximately 65 degrees over the connecting rod bearingsfor cylinders Nos. 1 and 2. This angular-spacing has been determined by the relative movement of the disc members throughv a 90 degree rotation of the forward crank shaft. On the power stroke of veither piston 29 or 30 of cylinder No. 3 or 4 when the :crank shaft has traveled approximately degrees the disc members, and consequently-the power shafts, travelapproximately 90 degrees, and thus either piston 2'? yor 28 of cylinders Nos. 1 and 2, according. to firing order," are at top dead center for the'next powerstroke'when the disc members have traveled 90 degrees, or from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in ig. 10. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10,.in this position the rear crankshaft arms arediametrically.op-v posite the forward crank shaft-arms, and-the mounting is such that an impulse is produced uponevery 90r degree rotation of the power stroke and disc members. The;relativev po-v sitions of the various parts and the differential rotation between thepcrank shaftand disc members maybe conveniently kfollowed by referenceto counterweights mounted upon the disc members on the opposite side ofthe centerv from the guides. The front. center disc 56 carries a counterweight portion. 98,'as shown in Fig.*4, the rear center VAdisc carries counterweight 99, andthe forward disc 64 and rear disc 94 carry `corresponding oounterweighted portions in the same relative positions. i

IThe diagrammaticjFigures 13 to 20, inelusive, show progressively the successiveFpositions of the discmember V56 fand-"the guide" 55 and'block 5.4 mounted thereon, with relation to connectingrod 38 of piston 30 reciprocating in cylinder No. 4. rFliese views are sections taken through portion 50 of the forward crank shaft which is journaled in stationary bearing 51to show the concentric or offset relationship betweenthc crank shaft axisand the disc axis, and also the views show relative positions of one cycle of the crank shaft taken at stages of 45 degrees. By reference to Fig. 13, the piston is at top dead center, exactly as shown in Fig. By reference to Fig. 15 it will be notedthat when the crank shaft has traveled 90 degrees, the disc member 567is advanced 130 degrees. W'hen the crank shaft has traveled through the full 180 degrees of the power stroke, the disc member 56 will have traveled from the `position shown in Fig. 13 to the position shown in Fig. 1'?, or approximately 235 degrees. During this period of operation, the crank shaft travels at a relatively slower speed than the disc member and vconsequently the power shaft, the greatest differential being through the lirst 90 degree travel of the crank shaft in the first half of the power stroke. Thus, bccause of this differential in rotation, and the fact that an impulse is applied at every 90 degree rotation of the disc members, there will result an overlapping of impulses. ln normaloperation, the disc members and the power shaft rotate at a uniform speed, but it will bev understood that because of the differential, the crank shaft rotation is not uniform inasmuch as the power stroke of the piston isutilized to drive the power shaft a greater distance than the rotational travel of the crank shaft. During the first 90 degree travel of the up stroke of the piston from the position shown in Fi 1'? to the position. shown in Fig. 19, the disc 5G travels approximately 00 degrees, and when the crank shaft travels the full distance of an up stroke from the position shown in Fig.A 12"' tothe position shown in Fig. 13, the disc member travels approximately 125 degrees. Consequently during the up stroke of the piston the crank. shaft rotates at a relatively greater speed than the disc member, resulting in an accelerated movement of the crank shaft, or relatively v greater movement, on the scavenger and compression strokes. Y y i The ignition system has not been shown in detail inasmuch as standard equipment for this purpose may be employed and is not involved inthe present invention.. However, inasmuch 'as a divided crank shaft utilized in the presentinvention, with a differential rotational speed, a divided cam shaf rt is necessary; Mounted upon the for ward crank shaft on the portion 4G between the divided sta vonary bearing 47 is a gear 100which drives silent chain 101, as shown in Fig. b, 'which in turn drives gear 102 keyed upon cam shaft Y103` which'iactuates*the: valve'104, as shown in- Fig. 2. Cams are appropriately positioned on the cam shaft lO for the operation of the remainingvalves. The rear cam shaft 105 as shown in Fig. l carries gear 106 which is similarly driven by gear 10.7 mounted upon the rear crank shaft. The disc shaft 8l ournaled in divided bearing 82 may carry gear 10S for operatingl w er pump 109, and the distributors for the ,ignition sistem may be driven by the respective cam shafts or by a direct connection with the crank shafts. Ey forming the disc members of two segments which vmay be taken up by removal of shims as wear requires, convenience of ustment is afforded, and similarly the sliding block members are halved for the same purpose to permit of maintenance of a tight bearing on the crank shaft ends. The tension springs Gl and the cross bars GO are not essential on the type of engine disclosed having` a relatively number of cylinders, but this mechanism is advisable when using` 90 degree discs to throw the bearing hol-der or slidable block off center when tile engine is being cranked by hand or starting motor. The present invention serves to increase and improve the performance and flexibility of an engine with relatively slight increase in weight and size and cost of manufacture. Likewise, the engine is economical to operate with relation to the increase in power obtained.

Thilo l have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction -for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without dcpa rting from the spirit of the invention. l, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the pcnded claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An apparatus of the character described, coinprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft, a crank shaft axially offset from said power shaft, an operative connection between said crank shaft and said pistons, and means connecting said crank shaft and said power shaft to cause a differv1 enti al rotation between said crank shaft and said power shaft.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft, a crank shaft axially oifset from said power shaft, an operative connection between said crank shaft and said pistons, and means connecting said crank shaft and said power shaft to cause said power shaft to rotate a greater distance than 180 degrees during a power stroke of one of said pistons.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in Vsaid cylinders, a power shaft, a crank shaft axially offset from said power shaft, a disc member mounted upon said power shaft, a block slidably mounted upon said disc member, and a crank arm of said crank shaft journaled in said block to cause a differential rotation between said crank shaft and said power shaft.

l. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft, a crank shaft axially olfset from said power shaft, a disc member mounted upon said power shaft, a block slidably mounted upon said disc member, and a crank arm of said crank shaft journaled in said block to cause said power shaft to rotate a greater distance than 180 degrees during a power stroke of one of said pistons.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinoers, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft, a crank shaft axially offset from said power shaft, a disc member mounted upon said power shaft, a block slidably mounted upon said disc member, and a crank arm of said crank shaft journaled in said block to cause a differential rotation between said crank shaft and said power shaft, said disc member composed of a pair of adjustable segmental portions.

6. An apparat-us of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons r-eciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft, a crank shaft axially offset from said power shaft, a disc member mounted upon said power shaft, a block slidably mounted upon said disc member, and a crank arm of said crank shaft journaled in said block to cause said power shaft to rotate a greater distance than 180 degrees during a power stroke of one of said pistons, said disc member composed of a pair of adjustable segmental portions.

7. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft journaled in a stationary bearing, a crank shaft journaled in a stationary bearing and axially offset with relation t0 said power shaft, an operative connection between said crank shaft and said pistons, and means connecting said crank shaft and said power shaft to cause an increased rotation of said power shaft during a power stroke of one of said pistons.

8. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft journaled in a stationary bearing, a crank shaft journaled in a stationary bearing and axially offset with relation 'to said power shaft, an operative connection between said crank shaft and said pistons, and

means connecting said crank shaft and said power shaft to cause said power shaft to rotate a greater distance than 180 degrees during a power stroke of one of said pistons.

9. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plural-- ity of pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft journaled in a stationary bearing, a crank shaft journaled in a stationary bearing and axially offset with relation to said power shaft, a disc member mounted upon said power shaft, a block slidably mounted upon said disc member, and a crank arm of said crank shaft journaled in said block to cause a differential rotation between said crank shaft and said power shaft.

l0. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft journaled in a stationary bearing, a crank shaft journaled in a stationary bearing and axia'lly offset with relation to said power shaft, a disc member mounted upon said power shaft, a block slidably mounted upon said disc member, and a crank arm of said crank shaft journaled in said block to cause said power shaft to rotate a greater distance than 180 degrees during al power stroke of one of said pistons. y

11. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft journaled in a stationary bearing, a crank shaft journaled in a stationary bearing and axially offset with relation to said power shaft, a disc member mounted upon said power shaft, a block slidab'ly mounted upon said disc member', and a ci'ank arm of said crank shaft journaled in said block to cause a differential rotation between said crank shaft and said power shaft, said disc member composed of a pair of adjustable segmental portions.

l2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft journaled in a stationary bearing', a crank shaft journaled in a stationary bearing and axially offset with relation to said power shaft, a disc member mounted upon said power shaft, a block slidably mounted upon said disc member, and a crank arm of said crank shaft journaled in said block to cause said power shaft to rotate a greater distance than 180 degrees during a power stroke of one of said pistons, said disc member composed of a pair of adjustable segmental portions.

13. An apparatus of lthe character' described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pist-ons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft, a crank shaft operativelyconnected to certain ofsaid cylinders', a ,secondV f crank shaft operatively connected tothe remainder of said cylinders, said crank shafts ournaled to rotate upon the same longitudinal .axis axially Voffset vfrom (the, axis of said power shaft, means for :can ay differential rotation between said 'crank shafts to obtaindistribution of impulses, and means .Y

shafts topbtaindistribution of impulses,

andmeans connectingk said crank shafts and saidpower shaft Yto'cause Vsaid power shaft to rotate ,agreater distance than 180 degrees duringg apower stroke of one of said pistons.

apparatus of the `character described, comprising a, plurality of cylinders, @,plurality 'l of' pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft,`a crank shaft operatively connected torcertain lof said cylinders, asecond crankshaft operatively connected ,to the remaiiideriofsaidcylinders, said crank shafts` journaled ,to ,rotate r,upon the same longitudinal axis axially Ioffset fremthe axis of said power shaft, means for causing a .dierential rotationmbetween -said crank shafts to obtain dis'triloution` of impulses, Va pair fof disc p members mounted" vupon said power'sh'aftone for each crank shaft, a block slidably mounted upon each disc member, and a crank arm of each crank shaft journaled in the'block of the associated disc member to cause said power shaft to rotate a -iin greater distance than degrees during a power stroke of one of said pistons.

16. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders,

a plurality of pistons reciprocable in said i,

cylinders, a power shaft, a crank shaft operatively connected to certain of said cylinders, a second crank shaft operatively connected to the remainder of said cylinders, said crank shafts journaled to rotate upon the samev 'rac longitudinal axis axially offset from the axis of said power shaft, means for causing a. differential rotation between said cra-nk shafts to obtain distribution of impulses, a pair or disc members mounted upon said power shaft one for each crank shaft, a block slidably mounted upon each disc member, and a crank arm of each crank shaft ]ournaled in the block of the associated dise member to cause said power shaft to rotate a greater distance Y than 180 degrees during a power stroke of one of said pistons, said disc member Colnposed Of a pair of adjustable segmental portions.

17. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of pistons reciprooable in said Cylinders, a power shaft, a crank shaft operatively Connected to Certain of said cylinders, a. second crank shaft operatively connected to the remainder of said cylinders, said crank shafts journaled to rotate upon the same longitudinal axis axially offset in a horizontal direction from the axis of said power shaft, means for causing a differential rotation between said Crank shafts to obtain distribution of impulses, and means connecting said Crank shafts and said power shaft to cause a diHerent-ial rot-ation between said crank shafts and said power shaft.

18. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of Cylinders, a plurality of pistons reoiprocable in said cylinders, a power shaft, a crank shaftoperatively connected to certain of said cylinders, a second crank shaft operatively Connected to the remainder of said Cylinders, said Crank shafts journaled to rotate upon the same longitudinal axis axially offset in a horizontal direction from the axis of said power shaft, means for causing a differential rotation between said Cranlrshafts to obtain distribution of impulses, and means Connecting said crank shafts and said power shaft to Cause said power shaft to rotate a greater distance than 180 degrees during a power stroke of one of said pistons..

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT CROSVELL SMITH. 

